Hot-air furnace.



No. 730,653. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903. J. W. HORNSEY.

HOT AIR FURNACE. APPLIOATION I'ILED APR. 17, 1902.

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- PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

J. W. HORNSEY. I .HOT AIR FURNACE.

APPLICATION PILBD'APB. 17, 1902.

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UNr'ran STATES Patented June 9, 1 90.3.

JOHN \V. HORNSEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HOT-AIR FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,653, dated June 9,1903.

Application filed April 17,1902.

To all whom, itmcty concern.-

Be itknown thatI, JOHN W. HORNSEY, a citizen of the United States of'America, residing at the city of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHot- Air Furnaces, of which the followingis a specification.

My present invention, which relates to hotair furnaces, contemplatescertain improvements in the type of furnace patented to me May 7, 1901,No. 673,397, the said improvements having for their object thesimplification of the furnace structure, together with increasedefiiciency and economy of space in the installation for drying and forheating.

An important feature of improvement resides in a novel constructionwhereby the products of combustion are diffused and controlled andretarded or expedited in their passage through the radiating structure,as may be desired, and the flue structure thereby rendered a moreuniform reservoir of heat.

The accompanying drawings read in connection with the followingdescription will enable any one skilled in the art to which my inventionrelates to understand its nature and to practice it in the form in whichI prefer to employ it; but it will be understood that myinvention is notlimited to the exact construction and arrangement illustrated anddescribed, as changes might be made which would properly be within thescope and'terms of the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows in vertical section my hot-airfurnace embodying my present improvements, the sec tion being taken onthe dotted line V V of Fig. 6 to show that the air-flues and thefirespaces open at the air-inlet side of the furnace-wall and that theopenings 18 of the firespaces areclosed by plugs 19. Fig. 2 is avertical transverse section of the same, taken on the line X of Fig. 1,the line of section showing particularly the plugged openings 18 of thefire-spaces in the opposite walls, as in Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection taken on the line Z of'Fig. 1, showing a plurality ofheatditfusing valve-controlled chambers supplementingtheheat-storagefluestructure. Fig. 4 is a like section taken through one of the horizontalcircuitous air-passages on the line Y of Fig. 1, showing in section thevertical fire-lines. Fig. 5 is a like section taken through one of thehorizontal fire-spaces on the line WV of Fig. 1, showing the provisionfor cleaning the fire-spaces. Fig. 6 shows in elevation the arrangementof the wall-openings for the admission of the air into the heatstoragestructure and the arrangement of the wall-openings for cleaning thefire-spaces.

The heat-storage structure is of fire-resist ing material, within whichair-passages 1 are formed by slabs arranged in horizontal tiersseparated and supported by staggered walls forming vertical fire-fines2, the walls of which pass successively through the tiers of theair-passages.

Fire-spaces 3 are formed by and between the horizontal slabs, and intothese fire-spaces the Vertical fire flues open successively through thetiers of slabs, whereby the firefiues heat the air by radiation and forma heat-storage structure or reservoir, wherein and throughcertain'passages of which air is caused to constantly pass incomparatively thin volumes independently of andcrossing the flues forthe products of combustion, the air in its passage extracting the heatradiated from the walls. In this construction of separate andindependent passages and fl'ues, the latter for the products ofcombustion and the passages for the air'in thin volumes in contact withand between flue-walls, the heat is maintained at a high temperature andthe air is rendered absolutely pure and of a high moistu re-absorbingcapacity.

In the construction shown. the fire-box 4, which may be adapted forgrate-tire, is preferably located directly beneath the heat-storage fluestructure, so that the fire-fines of the latter open directly into thefire-box chamber for an updraft. This heat-storage structure issupplemented bya plurality of valvecontrolled heat-retarding chambers 5,into which the fire-fines open and which are supplemented by a chamber6, having a plurality of valve-controlled chimneys 7, whereby inoperating conjointly these valved chambers the products of combustionare caused to be diffused through the circuitous fireflues, and therebyeffect a more uniform combustion of the fire products in the perfectdiffusion of the heat through the staggered fines.

To secure the desired high temperature of the air, perfect combustionand the extraction of every atom of heat possible from the a multiple ofvertical fines which open into successive horizontal intersectingspaces, which are common to all the products and within which they arecommingled. The walls of these successive fire-spaces form also thewalls of the successive air-passages, and the fire products pass intothese shallow firespaces toward the exit and into a valve-controlledchamber or chambers, the functions of which are to diffuse-the productsof combustion within the staggered flue-passages, wherein the perfectcombustion takes place.

To insure the complete extraction of the heat from the products ofcombustion, it is essential that all the radiating-surface be utilized,and to do this it is necessary that the products of combustion bethoroughly and completely diffused through the fine structure andretarded in their passage in such manner as to prevent their escapeuntil 'as much of their heat as possible has been absorbed. For thispurpose it is important that provision be made whereby perfect controlmay be had over the entrance and passage of the fire products into andthrough all the staggered llues and successive fire-spaces. Theprovision which I have shown for this purpose is a plurality ofvalve-controlled chambers 5, built up with and forming a part of theflue structure and into which all it fire-fines open.

The chambers are preferably provided with valves 8, 9, and 10 forcontrolling therefrom the products of combustion, and hence thediffusion of the draft through the heat-storage flue structure. Inpractice the number of such chambers will be governed by the size of thefurnace.

When the exits are made by two openings for each chamber, I prefer touse a pair of valves for each chamber, as in Fig. 2, as a means ofcontrol over the draft and diffusion through the heat-storage fluestructure, the valves of each chamber being preferably operated fromopposite sides of the furnace.

In operation it might be found that the products of combustion wouldhave a greater tendency to rise through that part of the fine structurenearest the fire box, which, as shown, is beneath the valved exit 8, andin this case the fire products could be spread through all the lines ofthe structure by clos ing said valves 8 of the side chamber, partiallyopening the valves 9 of the middle chamber, and, if necessary, entirelyclosing the valves 10 of the other side chamber.

By the plurality of chambers and by the opening and closing of theirvalves the passage of the products of combustion through theheat-storage structure may be diffused, retarded, and expedited, as maybe desired, the result being the discharge from each of these valvedchambers of the products of combustion at the same temperature at thesame or in variable volumes. 7

As the fire-brick of which the flue structure is built is a poor conductor'of heat, I find it advantageous to supplement the fire-brickradiating structure with a secondary radiator of metallic walls, and byso doing I can reduce the extent of the fire-brick radiatingsurface. Forsuch. secondary radiator I prefer to employ a plurality of metal tubes11, arranged within the chamber 6, supplementing the plurality of valvedchambers, so that the fire products from the latter will pass around themetallic walls, which. will absorb the heat and transmit it to airpassages through said tubes. These tubes open at one of the side Wallsof the furnace-closure, their other ends opening into a hot-air-storagechamber 12 at the other side wall, and controlled by valves'13, so as toretard the flow of air through them that it may not enter thestorage-chamber at a temperature very much below that passing into saidchamber from the air-passages 1 of the fire-brick flue structure.

In the construction shown the products of combustion will leave thefurnace at approximately 2,500 to 2,700 Fahrenheit and can be allowed topass out of the valve-controlled openings of the chambers 5 at anydesired temperature, generally about 800 Fahrenheit. There is thereforea cooperative relation between the valved draftcontrolling chambers 5 ofthe fire-brick flue-radiator and the metallic radiator.

The products of combustion on leaving the fire-brick radiator will passinto and gather in the chambers 5, the valves thereof holding the heatand allowing it to pass out inregulated volumes, and in this functionthese chambers serve to retain more or less of the heat in contact withand over the surface at which the heat leaves. the hue structure,whereby these valved chambers are caused to form a sort of oven, keepingthe top airpassage hot, while protecting the walls of the metallicradiator from heat which would melt them.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the air-passages are open atboth the closurewalls and that one of said walls is inclosed, so thatall these passages open into this closure, which is thereby made ahot-air-storage chamber 12, from which air is supplied for use and maybe drawn therefrom by a suction-fan placed in an opening at 14: andwhich also draws the air through the staggered passages of theheat-storage structure.

It will be noted that the air is drawn by the suction-fan into andthrough the tubes 11, and its passage from the tubes is retarded by thevalves 13 in order that the air may be highly heated before passing intothe storage-chamber, and it is in this chamber that the air is receivedat varying temperatures and commingled and from which it is taken at auniform temperature. In this arrangement of the heat-economizer tubes itis important to note that the considerable area of the roof of thedraft-regulating chamber or chambers 5 will radiate a large amount ofheat that will be utilized to the fullest extent to heat the metallicair-heating tubes. Another feature of importance is the provision of aplurality of chimney-fines 7 in the closure-walls, opening by flues 15into the chamber of the metallic radiator, the chimneys rising from theclosure-walls and surrounding this chamber and each provided with adamper 16, whereby the products of combustion may be retarded andretained within the chamber of the metallic radiator to insure theabsorption of the heat by thetubes as completely as possible and tocontrol and regulate the draft from the said chamber, and therebycontrol and regulate the draft through the valve-controlled chambers. Byhaving a plurality of short chimneys each controlled independentlyby avalve the products of combustion may be carried out any one or more ofthe said chimneys at the same temperature and in this way effect auniform diffusion of the fire products around the walls of the metallicradiator.

The valves of chambers 5, which supplement the flue structure and thedampers in the chimney-flues, may, if desired, be so adjusted as tocause all of the products of combustion to pass out of the fire-brickflue struc- Lure through any one or more of the valvecontrolled chambers5 and out of the metallicradiator chamber through any number of thechimneys, the draft being distributed on all sides of this secondarychamber as may be desired. The object of this method of operation of thechimney-valves is to force the products of combustion to pass for agreater distance around and along the metallic tubes, thus giving agreater opportunity for the absorption of heat.

I have shown a plurality of rows of tubes between the valve-controlledchambers 5 and the valve-controlled chimneys, and I may use abafiie-plate 17 between the rows of tubes standing out from theclosure-wall and extending nearly to the opposite closure-wall, so thatthe products of combustion passing, say, through the valve-controlledopening 10 of the chamber 5 would then pass to the left around and alongthe lower row of tubes beneath the baffle-plate to the end of thelatter, from which they would rise, pass around and along the upper rowof the tubes, and make their exit through the chimneys above the valve10.

The employment of a plurality of controllable short chimneys surroundingand opening into a chamber common to all and through which the draft ofthe flue structure is eifected is an important provision in afiordingfacility to work the furnacewith a draft suited to the flue structureand the desired force of the draft.

I have stated as an important advantage of the furnace that it can beoperated continuously; but this is only rendered possible by provisionwhereby certain of the flues may be kept free from choking. In operatingthe furnace I have found that the vertical staggered fire-fines 2 areself-cleaning and that the horizontal fire-spaces 3 between the slabsbecome filled with ashes and stop the draft of the furnace. Thesefire-spaces are formed by blocks arranged in parallel rows, as in Figs.1 and 5, which separate and support the slabs, and between these rows ofblocks the fireflues open in staggered relation between the slabs. Thefire products, therefore, as they pass from the vertical fiues impingeagainst the slabs above and are deflected horizontally,

and it is this interruption of the vertical direction of the fireproducts which causes the deposit of ashes within the fire-spacesbetween the fiue-openin gs. I therefore provide access to thesefire-spaces by openings 18 in the closure-walls coincident with thespaces between the rows of blocks and with the fine openings. In theother right-angle closurewall openings 18 are provided coincident withthe fire-spaces between the blocks and with the said flue-openings. Thisarrangement of the blocks in their relation to the rows of flueopeningsgives a clear way for introducing a scraper through the closure-wallopenings and through the fire-spaces across the fire-flue openings 2 tocause the collected ashes to be pushed and scraped in two directionsbetween the rows of blocks over the flue-openings, through which theashes fall successively from one fire-space to the other and finallyinto a chamber common to all the flues, as in.

Figs. 2 and 5.

The wall-openings 18 are provided with suitable closures, as by plugs orbricks 19 tomporarily set in, and can be removed when fire-spaces are tobe cleaned.

Referring to Fig. 3, rows of fire-fines are seen opening intothechambers 5, which are within the closure-walls, and it is from thesewalls that the chimneys rise and from which the roof extends from thebase of the chimneys and forms the closure for the hot-airstorage-chamber, and beneath the roof the chimney-flues open into thesecondary radiator-chamber. In Fig. 5 is seen the horizontal straightpassages 3 for the products of combustion leading through thefurnace-closure walls and intersecting the vertical passages for theproducts of combustion, whereby the ICC ash deposits in these straightpassages may be dislodged and carried to and through the vertical fluessuccessively from one straight passage to another to a base-chambercommon to all the fiues, the dislodgment being made in lines at rightangles to each. other between the rows of blocks.

While I have shown the vertically-staggered fire-flues opening directlyinto the chamber of the fire-box, obviously the fire-box may be arrangedoutside of the fine structure.

I have shown and described a construction of furnace employing anupdraft, but do not wish to be confined to this direction of the draft.

While I have described a plurality of valved chambers supplementing thefine structure, whereby the heat may be diffused through the fluestructure, obviously a single valved chamber would be within the scopeof the claims,by reason of having the same diffusing function as aplurality of valved chambers.

I claim 1. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brickstructure, a plurality of circuitous fiues therein for the products ofcombustion in communication with a fire-chamber common to all,circuitous passages for air independent of and crossing the flues forthe products of combustion, and a plurality of valved exit-fines wherebythe products of combustion are caused to be diffused through the finesof said structure.

2. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, aplurality of circuitous fines therein for the products of combustion incommunication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitous passages forair independent of and crossing the dues for the products of combustion,a plurality of valved chambers for diffusing the products of combustionthrough the lines of said structure and a plurality of valved eXit-fiuesinto which the valved chambers commonly discharge.

3. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, aplurality of circuitous fiues therein for the products of combustion incommunication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitous passages forair independent of and crossing the fines for the products ofcombustion, controllable outlets for the products of combustion, andchambers between said outlets and the fire-fines having controllabledischarge-openings.

4. In an air-heating furnace, the combination of a plurality ofcircuitous flues for the products of combustion, valve controlledheat-diffusing chambers communicating with said lines and through whichthe products of combustion are compelled to pass, controlla ble outletsfor the products of combustion beyond said chambers,and air-passagescrossing the heat-dilfusing chambers.

5. In an air-heating furnace and in combination with a fire-box, afire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and inde-' pendentsets of lines and passages, one set for the passage of the fire productsand the other set for the passage of air, each set of dues and passagesarranged in zigzag courses crossing each other, valve-controlledchambers into which the fire-fines open, and a plurality of controllableexit-fines surrounding said chambers.

6. In an air-heating furnace, a fire-box, a fire-brick structure, aplurality of circuitous flues therein for the products of combustion incommunication with a fire-chamber common to all, circuitouspassages forair independent of the lines for the-products of combustion, a pluralityof outlets for the products of combustion, chambers communicating withthe fire-fines having controllable'discharge-openings and otherair-passages between the chambers and outlets.

'7. In an air-heating furnace and in combination, a fire-box, afire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and independentsets of flues and passages,one set for the passage of the fire productsand the other set for the passage of the air, each set crossing eachother in zigzag courses, chambers into which the fire-fines open, aplurality of controllable exit-fines surrounding said chamber, astorage-chamber into which the airpassages open, and a plurality ofmetallic fines for air arranged across the chamber into which thefire-flues open and opening into the hot-air-storage chamber.

8. In an air-heating furnace, andin combination, a fire-box, afire-brick structure the walls of which form separate and independentsets of dues and passages, one set for the passage of the fire productsand the otherset for the passage of air, each set of fines and passagesarranged in zigzag courses crossing each other, a plurality of chamberssupplementing the exit-openings of the fire-fines, valves controllingexit openings in each chamber, a chamber common to said valved openings,a plurality of chimneys the dues of each opening into the latterchamber. 9. In an air-heating furnace and in combination with afire-box, a flue structure of fireresisting material having verticallystaggered dues for the fire products and passages for air crossing thefire-fines, a plurality of valved chambers supplementing the fluestructure for diffusing the fire products through the flue structure,and a valve-controlled chamber supplementing the heat-diffusion chambersfor controlling the draft through the latter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. I-IORNSEY.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. 'JoHNsoN, GUY H. JOHNSON.

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